Centrifugal device



March l20", 1945.

R. W. ESAREY` CENTRIFUGAL DEVICE .Filed 001'.. 28, 1942 INVENTOR ATTORNEY v.l e f m E N. ,d m m,

Patented Mar. 20, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,372,064 CENTRIFUGAL DEVICE The present invention Raymond W. Esarey, Lima,

Electric Ohio, assigner to Manufacturing Com- Pa., a corporation of Application October 28, 1942, Serial No. 463,633 3 Claims. ('Cl. 264-17) Y relates to centrifugal devices and, more particularly, to a rotor member for a centrifugally-actuated speed-responsive switch, such as is used in single-phase electric motors.

mary winding. The -circuit winding is controlled by a switch which opera of the auxiliary speed-responsive tes when the motor has l reached a predetermined speed to disconnect the auxiliary winding, or, in some types to effect a change in iliary winding for running.

In some applications of singleof motors,

the connections of the auxphase motors,

such as in hoists, it sometimes happens through inadvertence, failure of a mechanical brake, or

otherwise, that the motor is driven by the load at a very much higher speed than the speed at which it normally runs.

When this occurs, the

centrifugal force acting on the rotating part oi' the speed-responsive than the switch is very much higher force for which the switch is designed,

and centrifugal devices of conventional construction usually fly apart under these conditions, resulting in destruction of the switch, and

usually in damage to This type of failure of the to the fact that the beyond their elastic marient deformation the windings of the motor. switch is chieiiy due excessive centrifugal force limit, thus causing a perof the springs and permitting them to release the weights and other parts of the device so that it nies apart.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a centrifugal device which can safely be driven at very much higher speeds than the speed at which it is normally intended to run,

and which will not be damaged by running at such speeds.

Another object of the invention is to provide a centrifugal device in which means are provided to positively limit the outward movement of the movable parts, and the springs beyond their to prevent tensioning of elastic limit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive means which can easily .be applied to centrifugal devices oi.' standard design to limit the outward movement of the movable parts, and to springs beyond their prevent. tensioning of the device is driven at very much higher speeds than it is intended for.

Further objects an tion will be apparent d advantages of the invenfrom the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of an electric motor, showing the application of the centrifugal device of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end View of the centrifugal device of Fig. 1 on a larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the centrifugal device;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig, 3 but showing the parts of the centrifugal device in their positions when the motor is running at normal speed; and

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the centrifugal device.

Fig. 1 shows a centrifugal device embodying the present invention as used inthe starting switch of a relatively small single-phase motor. The motor shown in the drawing is of typical construction, and has a frame member l in which is supported a laminated stator core 2 which carries suitable main and auxiliary stator windings, generally indicated at 3, in slots in its inner periphery.l The motor has a shaft 4 which is supported for rotation in suitable bearings 5 mounted in the end brackets 6. A laminated rotor core 'I is secured to the shaft and suitable rotor windings 8 are carried on the rotor core 1.

The starting switch, which is mounted inside one of the end brackets, consists of a stationary member 9 and a rotor member or centrifugal device IU. The stationary member s may be of any suitable type, and is shown as consisting of a support or base II of insulating material, which is rigidly fastened in the inside of the end bracket 6 in a position surrounding, but spaced from, the shaft 4. A vspring member i2 is secured to the base II at one end, and at its other end carries a contact I3 which is adapted to engage an opposing contact Il on the base II. The spring member I2 normally holds its contact I3 away from the contact I4, but it is positioned so as to be engaged bythe centrifugal device I6, which holds the contacts I 3 and I4 together when the motor is at standstill, or running at low speed. 'I'he contacts I3 and I4 are, of course. connected in the circuit of the auxiliary winding of the motor in any usual manner.

The centrifugal device I0, to which the pres- A .are bent at right also has a roller 22 on the shaft d so as to rotate with it. The support member l also has side portions I1 which angles to the plane of the sul*1 port member so as to extend parallel to the shaft, and each of the side portions i1 has slots i8 c'ut in both ends thereof extending substantially perpendicular to the axis oi the shaft. The support member' i5 also has end portions i9 at each end bent over parallel to the shaft to limit the outward movement of the movable weights, as ex plained below.

A pair of movable weights 2d is mounted on the support member i5. The weights E@ are posi-ftioned on opposite sides of the shaft d, and each weight has pintles 2i at lboth ends which extend through the slots i8 and engage the slots to guide the weights 2t in their inward and outward move ment, so that they move radially toward and a ay from the shaft. Each of the weights .2t of a rather hard, resilient ma terial mounted on the pintle 2i at each end. The rollers 22 are adapted to engage the end portions iii of fthe support i5 when the weights 2t move radially outward to limit the outward movement of the weights. and the rollers 22 absorb any shock or jar when the weights are stopped so as to attain substantially quiet operation oi the switch.

The centrifugal device iii also includes a slider member 23 which is adapted to move axially of the shaft d. The slider 23 has a radial flange 2t which engages the spring member i2 when the slider is in its extreme left-hand position, as seen in the drawing, to hold the contacts of the switch closed. The slider is of generally cylindrical shape, and is connected to the weights 2!! by means of a pair of opposed nger plates 2t, which function as connecting members or links to connect the slider 23 to the weights 20, so that the slider is moved axially when the weights 2t move inwardly or outwardly with respect to the shaft. The finger plates 26 are positioned on opposite sides of the shaft, and each ofthe finger plates has two extending finger portions 2 which engage in notches 25 in the periphery of the slider 23. Each finger plate 2t also has downwardly bent portions 28 at its opposite end which are attached to the pintles 2l of the weights 20 on the outside of the side portions i1 of the support member i5, so that movement of the weights 2@ radially of the shaft also moves the finger plates, and thus causes them to move the slider. The finger plates also have lu-gs 29 at each side, and the two finger plates on opposite sides of the shaft are connected together by means of helical tension springs 3G which are attached to the lugs 29 to draw the finger plates together towards the shaft. The springs 30 thus tend to hold the weights in their innermost position, with the slider 23 moved to the left, so as to engage the stationary part il of the switch and maintain the contacts i3 and i4 closed, as shown in Fig. l.

When the motor starts up, the centrifugal device |0 rotates with the shaft, and the centrifugal force acting on the weights 2i) tends to move them radially outward, but this movement is opposed by the tension springs 30, acting through the finger plates 26, so that the weights are held in their innermost position. As the motor speeds up, the centrifugal force increases, and when a predetermined speed is reached, the centrifugal force becomes great enough to overcome the opposing force of the springs 30, and the weights 20 move radially outward, being guided by the slots I8. until the rollers 22 engage the end D01'- tions i9 of the support i5. This outward movement of the weights draws the slider 23 axially to the right, by means of the iinger plates 28,'so that the contacts i3 and it are disengaged by the spring i2. In the particular structure shown in the drawing and described above, the arrangement of the springs ed is such that the force exerted by the @rings on the weights 2t decreases as the weights move outward, for the reason that as the weights move away from the shaft, the line of action of the springs becomes more nearly parallel to the plane joining the fingers 2 and the points of attachment of the portions 28 to the pintles 2l of the weights. This arrangement has the advantage of insuring reliable and steady operation of the switch, and also has the further advantage that the switch does not return to its low-speed position until the speed of the motor has decreased to a speed consider ably less than that at which the switch operated, which is especially desirable for certain types of motors.

When the centrifugal device described herein, or any centrifugal device utilizing a similar type of construction, is subjected to much higher forces than those for which it is designed, such as by driving the shaft on which it ismounted at a much higher speed than that for which the centrifugal device is intended, failure of the device is likely to result. This is because the large, radially directed centrifugal force applied to the finger members 2S and the springs S stretches the springs and tensions them beyond their elastic limit, so that a permanent stretching or deformation of the springs occurs. Such stretching of the springs releases the finger plaies 26, so that they are thrown outwardly b'y the centrifugal force, pivoting around the pintles 2i of the weights. When this occurs, the entire structure flies apart and the switch is destroyed. Damage to the motor windings is very often also caused by the parts of the switch, which are thrown away from the shaft with great force.

In accordance with the present invention, such failures are prevented by providing means for positively limiting the outward movementl ofthe finger plates, and for limiting the tension that can be applied to the springs by the centrifugal force. This is accomplished by the provision of a pair of stop members 3 I one of which is placed in each of the springs 30. The stop members Si preferably consist of thin strips of material of relatively high elastic limit, such as phosphor-bronze, a1- though any suitable material having a higher elastic limit than that of the springs may be used. Each of the stop members 3i is shaped to provide a hook portion 32 at each end, and each stop member is positioned within the spring with which it is associated, the width of the stop member being made such that it is held in position by frictional engagement with the convolutions of the spring.

When the centrifugal device is at rest, or rotating at low speed, as shown in Fig. 3, the ends of the stop members 3| project beyond the nger plates and the ends of the springs, and 'when the device starts to'accelerate, the weights 20 move outwardly and move the slider 23 axially, in the manner described above, so that the stops 3| have' no effect on the normal operation of the device. When the welghts'll reach their extreme position, as shown in Fig. 4, the nger plates 26 have been moved to the position shown, in which the lugs 29 are engaged by the hook portions 32 of the 9,872,064 3 stop members Il. Sinceeach of the stops is a necting member being attached to one of said single continuous strip of material of high tensile weights and having a portion engaging said slider strength, and the two finger plates on opposite to effect axial movement of the slider when the sides of the shaft are engaged by both ends of weight members move toward or away from the each of the two stop members 3|, the finger 5 shaft, a pair of helical tension springs extending plates are positively held against further outbetween said connecting members on opposite ward movement. Since the springs l0 are atsides of the shaft, said springs tending to draw tached to the lugs 29, they are also positively resaid connecting members together toward the strained, and cannot be tensioned beyond the shaft, and a stop member supported by each of loading for which they were designed, no matter l" said springs, each stop member being held in pohow fast the shaft may be rotated. Thus, the sition by frictional engagement with the convoluprovision of thelstop members Il makes the centions of its spring, and each stop member being trifugal device safe irrespective of the speed at shaped at both ends to engage the connecting which it is rotated, since it is impossible for the members at a predetermined point in their cutparts of the device to fly apart, or for the springs lo ward movement to prevent further outward to be tensioned beyond their elastic limit. movement.

The stop members 3| are very simple, and are 2. In a centrifugal device, a rotor member cominexpensive to make, since they can be die-cut prising a support member adapted to be fixed on from strip or sheet material, and they can easily a shaft to rotate therewith, a pair of opposed be applied to existing centrifugal devices without 20 weight members mounted in said support member requiring any changes whatever'in the design of on opposite sides of the shaft and guided for the devices. Thus, the present invention is very movement toward and away from the shaft, a advantageous, since standard centrifugal startslider mounted for movement axially of the shaft. ing switches, such as are commonly used on sina pair oiy opposed connecting members. each congle-phase motors, can easily and cheaply bemade '.5 necting member being attached to one of said safe against the effects of excessive speed when weights and having a portion engaging said slider the'application for which the motor is intended to effect axial movement of the slider when the makes such precautions advisable. It is to be weight members move toward or away from the understood that the usefulness of the inventionis shaft, a pair of helical tension springs, said not restricted to the particular centrifugal device :m springs being disposed on opposite sides of the illustrated and described above, since it is apparshaft, one end of each spring engaging one of said ent that the stop members Il, or their equivalent, connecting members and the other end of each could readily be applied to any centrifugal device spring engaging the other connecting member, of the same general type. whereby the springs tend to draw the connecting Although a specific embodiment of the inven- :irmembers together toward the shaft, and an elontion has been illustrated and described, it is to gated member extending longitudinally of each be understood that the invention is not limited of said springs, each of said elongated members to the exact arrangement shown, but that in its being supported substantially coaxially of the broadest aspects it includes allequivalent embodispring and extending beyond the spring at both ments and modifications which come within the 4o ends, said elongated members being shaped at scope of the appended claims. each end to engage the connecting members at a Iclaim as my invention: predetermined point in their outward movement l. In a centrifugal device, arotor member comto prevent further outward movement and furprising a support member adapted to be fixed on ther tensioning of the springs.

a shaft to rotate therewith, a pair of opposed 45 3. The invention as defined in claim 2 characweight members mounted in said support memterized by the elongated members being made of a ber on opposite sides of the shaft and guided for material having a higher elastic limit than that movement toward and away from the shaft, a of the springs.

slider mounted for movement axially of the shaft,

a pair oi opposed connecting members, each con- 50 RAYMOND W. ESAREY. 

